U.S. patent application number 16/011841 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-19 for media sheet finishing.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.. Invention is credited to Robert Scott Beale, Bruce G. Johnson, Timothy Jacob Luedeman, Bob Reichert, Robert Yraceburu.
Application Number | 20190381812 16/011841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68839074 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190381812 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beale; Robert Scott ; et
al. |
December 19, 2019 |
MEDIA SHEET FINISHING
Abstract
An example finishing device may include a monoclamp, a carrier
body, and a biasing element located between the monoclamp and the
carrier body to force the monoclamp away from the carrier body.
Inventors: |
Beale; Robert Scott;
(Vancouver, WA) ; Johnson; Bruce G.; (Vancouver,
WA) ; Yraceburu; Robert; (Camas, WA) ;
Reichert; Bob; (Vancouver, WA) ; Luedeman; Timothy
Jacob; (Portland, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68839074 |
Appl. No.: |
16/011841 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2801/27 20130101;
B65H 31/02 20130101; B41J 2/01 20130101; B41J 2/455 20130101; B65H
2405/112 20130101; B65H 2301/4212 20130101; B41J 11/0015 20130101;
B65H 31/26 20130101; B41J 13/106 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 11/00 20060101
B41J011/00; B41J 2/455 20060101 B41J002/455; B41J 2/01 20060101
B41J002/01 |
Claims
1. A finishing device, comprising: a monoclamp; a carrier body; and
a biasing element located between the monoclamp and the carrier
body to force the monoclamp away from the carrier body.
2. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the monoclamp is a
gimbaled monoclamp.
3. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is
further to pull racks mounted to the monoclamp against running
surfaces on an interior of the carrier body.
4. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is
further to reduce theta-x rotation of the monoclamp as it is driven
against a shelf of the finishing device.
5. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is
further to control a clearance between the monoclamp and the
carrier body.
6. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is
mounted in the monoclamp.
7. The finishing device of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is
to force the monoclamp away from the carrier body by applying a
force to the monoclamp evenly throughout a range of motion of the
monoclamp.
8. A finishing device, comprising: a media transport device to move
print media sheets from a print mechanism to a finishing zone of
the finishing device; an attachment device coupled to the media
transport device; a push-pull member coupled to the media transport
device; and a bias member coupled to the attachment device and the
push-pull member to bias the attachment device and the push-pull
member to reduce clearances between the attachment device, the
push-pull member, and the media transport device.
9. The finishing device of claim 8, wherein the bias member is an
extension spring.
10. The finishing device of claim 8, further comprising a rack,
wherein the bias member is further to bias the attachment device,
the push-pull member, and the rack to reduce clearances between the
attachment device, the push-pull member, and the rack.
11. The finishing device of claim 8, further comprising gears,
wherein the bias member is further to bias the attachment device,
the push-pull member, and the gears to reduce clearances between
the attachment device, the push-pull member, and the gears.
12. The finishing device of claim 8, further comprising a gear pin,
wherein the bias member is further to bias the attachment device,
the push-pull member, and the gear pin to reduce clearances between
the attachment device, the push-pull member, and the gear pin.
13. The finishing device of claim 8, further comprising a rack, and
a motor pinion, wherein the bias member is further to bias the
attachment device, the push-pull member, and the motor pinion to
reduce clearances between the attachment device, the push-pull
member, and the motor pinion.
14. The finishing device of claim 8, further comprising an encoded
motor system to control a portion of the finishing device.
15. A system, comprising: a printing device; and a finishing device
coupled to the printing device comprising: an x-registration media
transport device to move print media sheets from the printing
device to a finishing zone, the media transport device comprising:
a rigid attachment device coupled to the media transport device;
and a bias member coupled to the attachment device and the media
transport device to bias the attachment device, the media transport
device, and a push-pull member to reduce clearances between the
attachment device, the push-pull member, and the media transport
device; and a biasing element located between a monoclamp and a
carrier body to force the monoclamp away from the carrier body and
increase clearance between the monoclamp and the carrier body.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the bias member includes an
extension spring to remove a motion of the x-registration media
transport device.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the biasing element located
between the monoclamp and the carrier body holds the monoclamp in a
particular orientation.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the biasing element located
between the monoclamp and the carrier body is mounted in the
monoclamp and acts against an exterior of the carrier body.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the printing device is an
inkjet printing device.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the printing device is a laser
printing device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Imaging systems, such as printers, copiers, etc., may be
used to form markings on print media, text, images, etc. In some
examples, imaging systems may form markings on the print medium by
performing a print job. A print job can include forming markings
such as text and/or images by transferring a print substance (e.g.,
ink, toner, etc.) to the print media. The print media may be
stacked on a tray after printing. The printing device may be
connected to a finishing device (e.g., a finisher) that may perform
a finishing process on the stacked print media.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates an example finishing device including a
biasing element, a monoclamp, and a carrier body.
[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates an example finishing device including a
media transport device, an encoded motor system, and a bias
member.
[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates an example finishing device including a
media transport device, an attachment device, a push-pull member,
and a bias member.
[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates an example system including a printing
device and a finishing device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Printing devices can be utilized to form markings on a print
media. As used herein, a printing device includes a hardware device
that transfers a print substance on to a print media such as paper.
For example, a printing device can include an inkjet printer that
can deposit liquid or ink on to the print media to form a marking.
As used herein, the term "print media" may include paper,
photopolymers, plastics, composite, metal, wood, or the like. For
example, a print media sheet may be deposited onto a finishing tray
during a print job. A print media sheet may refer to a piece of
print media (e.g., a sheet of paper) upon which markings may be
formed to make up a physical representation of the output of a
print job or a portion of an output of a print job. As used herein,
the term "print job" refers to signals or states, which may be
stored in a file and/or a set of files, usable to instruct a print
device in forming text, images, and/or objects on print media.
Among other things, the print job may include information relating
to the print media. For example, a print job may include
information such as an amount of print media sheets to be used in
forming text, images, and/or objects on print media, a size or
format (e.g., dimensions) of the printed media sheets, a paper type
(e.g., paper weight, thickness, recycled content etc.), of the
print media sheets, etc.
[0007] As used herein, the term "finishing tray" may refer to a
component coupled to the printing device with a surface to collect
the print media sheets as a print job progresses. The print media
sheets may be aligned and/or arranged (e.g., registered) along an
edge to form a stack on the finishing tray such that a finishing
operation may be performed on a stack of print media sheets. As
used herein, the term "stack" refers to a vertical pile of print
media sheets. As should be apparent, a stack of print media sheets
may increase in height as a print job progresses (e.g., as
subsequent print media sheets are added to the stack). A
post-processing action, referred to herein as "finishing," may be
performed on a stack of print media sheets corresponding to a print
job. For example, a finishing operation may be performed on a stack
of print media sheets, including stapling, hole-punching, folding,
and/or collating, etc. A finishing operation may be performed on a
print job by a finishing device (e.g., a finisher), which may be
included in a printing device, included in the finishing tray,
and/or external to the printing device. As used herein, the term
"finishing device" refers to a mechanical and/or electrical
component to perform finishing operations, in some examples, the
finishing device may be a finisher or a portion of the printing
device and/or the finishing tray.
[0008] Print media sheets are transferred from a print zone of a
printer (e.g., a portion of a printer for applying a print
substance to media, such as a printhead to apply liquid print
substance to media) to the finishing tray by a media transport
device. As used herein, the term "a media transport device" refers
to an assembly of mechanical and/or electrical components to move
print media to or within a finishing device (e.g., from a print
mechanism such as a printing device).
[0009] When the print media sheet is moved by the media transport
device to the finishing tray, the stack of print media may be
misaligned for finishing operations. For instance, shingling can
occur within the stack. As used herein, "shingling" includes a top
sheet and an underlying stack being pushed away (e.g., from a
P-reference) with each closing of a clamp of the finishing device.
For instance, rotation of a monoclamp may occur during finishing.
The rotation may occur in a theta-x direction with a y-direction
component causing a current sheet and previously accumulated sheets
to shift in a y-direction, resulting in a shingled stack. This
shingling can result in an untidy and/or non-uniform stack, which
may be undesirable for users, and/or it may jam or damage a
printing device or finishing device.
[0010] Additionally, backlash can occur during the finishing
process when clearances between mechanical parts of the finishing
device create an overall clearance between the media transport
device and an associated motor system. Backlash, as used herein, is
a clearance or lost motion in a mechanism caused by gaps between
parts. The backlash can result in positioning errors for stacks,
which again can result in untidy and/or non-uniform stack, which
may be undesirable for users, and/or it may jam or damage a
printing device or finishing device.
[0011] Some finishing devices use shims to absorb clearances to
eliminate shingling and theta-x rotation, but by removing the
clearance, accommodations for reduced degrees of freedom introduced
by some clamps may be lost. To address backlash, some finishing
devices use tampers to push print media sideways to align it with
other media in a stack. However, tampers introduce acoustic
challenges when they tap the sides of media, and when used with
certain printing devices such as laser printers, tampers or other
components may be expensive and may increase power and energy
usage.
[0012] A finishing device according to the present disclosure can
include a spring between a monoclamp and a carrier body of the
finishing device to force the monoclamp away from the carrier body
to reduce or remove theta-x rotation of the monoclamp and reduce
shingling of the stack. Additionally, a finishing device according
to the present disclosure can reduce backlash at both a beginning
position of an X-registration system and an ending position of an
X-registration system by biasing a media transport device of the
X-registration system using a bias member. The bias member can
reduce clearances between mechanical parts of the finishing device,
resulting in better-aligned printed media as compared to a
finishing device without the bias member.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example finishing device 100 including
a biasing element 102, a monoclamp 104, and a carrier body 106. As
used herein, a monoclamp refers to a clamp having integral and
distinct pads 114 to clamp a print medium. Finishing device 100,
for instance, may use the monoclamp 104 for clamping of print media
as it is delivered to a stacking region that collects a stack of
print media.
[0014] In some examples, monoclamp 104 can be a gimbaled monoclamp.
A gimbaled monoclamp may decrease the front/rear force ratio and/or
eliminate a potential for mistiming, as compared to approaches
employing two individual clamps. Specifically, a gimbaled monoclamp
may include a monoclamp disposed partially in a housing and
including a first pad 114 and a second pad (not shown) which
extends through a first opening and a second opening of the
housing. Additionally, the gimbaled monoclamp may include a pin
extending through an opening in the clamp into a pivot point 113 to
couple the clamp to the housing in a gimbaled manner. As used
herein, being gimbaled and a gimbaled manner refer to a pivoted
support that allows the rotation of an object about a single axis.
Finishing device 100, in some examples may be included as a
component of a printing device or finishing device 100 may be an
external device separate from a printing device.
[0015] In some examples, biasing element 102 can be mounted in
monoclamp 104, such that it rides a wall 108 of monoclamp 104
reducing rotation of monoclamp 104 (e.g., preventing monoclamp 104
from rotating). Biasing element 102, in some examples, can include
a spring. Increased part clearances can increase theta-x rotation
of the monoclamp as it is driven against a shelf (e.g., contact
point). This rotation in theta-x can result in shingling. To
control a clearance between monoclamp 104 and carrier body 106,
(e.g., to reduce the additional clearance) biasing element 102 can
be inserted between monoclamp 104 and carrier body 106. For
instance, the biasing element 102 can reduce the theta-x rotation
at a moment of clamping and reduce media stack shingling. Biasing
element 102 can be mounted in monoclamp 104, in some examples, and
can act against an exterior surface 112 of carrier body 106 forcing
monoclamp 104 away from carrier body 106 and reducing contact and
resultant wear. The force can be applied evenly throughout a range
of motion of monoclamp 104, reducing theta-x motion of monoclamp
104 at an end of its travel which can reduce shingling. In some
instances, racks mounted (e.g., rigidly) to monoclamp 104 can be
pulled against their running surfaces on an interior of carrier
body 106 when monoclamp 104 is forced away from carrier body 106 by
biasing element 102. The pulling of the racks, in some examples,
can reduce (e.g., prevent) theta-Y rotation of monoclamp 104 from
gravity or clamping forces, among others.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an example finishing device 200 including
a media transport device 210, an encoded motor system 214, and a
bias member 216. Media transport device 210 can move print media
sheets from a print mechanism to a finishing zone of finishing
device 200. For reference, arrow 218 indicates y-direction of print
media travel, while arrow 220 indicates x-direction of print media
travel. Finishing device 200 can include an x-registration system,
which refers to the use of x-coordinates (and the x-direction of
travel) as a reference for print media sheets. An x-registration
system, for instance, can include a push-pull member, gears, a
rack, gear pins, an attachment device, and a motor pinion, among
other components. An x-registration system can include a system for
transporting a print media sheet that can translate the print media
sheet in the x-direction and the y-direction. In some examples, an
x-registration system can determine a distance a print media sheet
is to be moved in an x-direction to align with previously
accumulated print media sheets. In such an example, the print media
sheet may be translated a distance in the x-direction greater than
in the y-direction or vice versa.
[0017] Media transport device 210 can be connected to an integrated
positional encoded motor system 214 through a series of mechanical
parts including retainer clips, a push-pull member, gears, gear
posts, and structural elements. Encoded motor system 214, in some
examples, can control portions of finishing device 200. For
instance, encoded motor system 214 can rotate media transport
device 210 so media, such as print media sheets, moves in an
x-direction. Rotation can occur in the direction of arrows 217
around pivot points 219, for instance. At each interface between
the mechanical parts, there can be clearances of indeterminant
sizes to account for part manufacturing variation. When these
clearances are added together, they can create an overall clearance
("backlash") of indeterminant size between media transport device
210 and encoded motor system 214. This backlash can be reduced by
biasing media transport device 210 using bias member 216. Bias
member 216 can apply enough force to overcome friction forces
associated with media transport device 210 and its drive mechanism,
but not enough force to negatively affect an actuator of the drive
mechanism.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an example finishing device 300 including
a media transport device 310, an attachment device 322, a push-pull
member 324, and a bias member 316. FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed
view of portions of FIG. 2. Bias member 316, which in some examples
can be an extension spring, can be hooked on one end to attachment
device 322 attached to encoded motor system 314 and on an opposite
end to push-pull member 324 via a hook feature 330 on push-pull
member 324. Attachment device 322 can include, for instance, a
hook, a hole, a screw, or other attachment device to which bias
member 316 can be attached. Attachment device 322 can be a rigid,
fixed attachment device in some examples. Bias member 316 can
create biasing forces between push-pull member 324, gears 326, rack
328, gear pins 329, and a motor pinion that reduce (e.g.,
eliminate) clearances between these mechanical components.
[0019] With the reduction in clearances, an encoder on encoded
motor system 314 can more accurately represent the media transport
device 310 in the x-registration direction 320 both when an edge of
a media sheet is detected by a sensor, and when the x-registration
system has moved to a final page alignment position. This can
result in better aligned printed pages of media in finishing device
300 through improved accuracy of sheet-to-sheet registration for
stacking print media in finishing device 300 as compared to
finishing devices without reduced backlash.
[0020] In some examples, one end of bias member 316 can be attached
to media transport device 310 rather than push-pull member 324. In
such an example, this can reduce (e.g., eliminate) clearances
between clips 332, media transport device 310, and push-pull member
324. Reduced backlash, in some examples, can also enable less
expensive methods (e.g., a biasing element may be less expensive
than an actuated subsystem) and lower energy methods of
post-processing inkjet printed media. For instance, inkjet printing
can use lower energy as compared to laser printing, and laser
tappers don't work well with inkjet printed media. For example, it
may be difficult to tap damp inkjet media into place because inkjet
media may stick together and/or buckle rather than slide. In some
instances, quieter methods of x-registering sheets of media in
finishing device 310 can also be a result of reduced backlash. For
instance, noisy tappers may be avoided.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates an example system 440 including a
printing device 434 and a finishing device 400. Printing device 434
can include, for instance an inkjet printing device or a laser
printing device, among others. System 440 can include a media
transport device 410 analogous to media transport devices 210 and
310 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. For instance, media transport
device 410 can include an x-registration media transport device to
move a print media sheet 442 from printing device 434 to a
finishing zone 438 and align print media sheets in the
x-direction.
[0022] Although not shown in FIG. 4 for clarity and so as not to
obscure examples of the disclosure, print media sheet 442 may
include a plurality of print media sheets 442. For example, the
print media sheet 442 may be a stack including a plurality of print
media sheets 442. As used herein, the print media sheet 442 may be
collectively referred to as the print media sheet 442 (e.g.,
singular), the print media sheets 442 (e.g., plural), and/or the
stack of print media sheets 442. The printing device may move an
individual print media sheet 442 to a stack on a finishing tray
436.
[0023] Media transport device 410 can move the print media sheets
442 from printing device 434 in a positive y-direction and a
positive x-direction to a finishing zone 438, and the print media
sheets 442 may form a stack of print media sheets 442. As used
herein, the term "finishing zone" refers to an area on the
finishing tray 436 where the media transport device 410 may move
the print media sheets 442 before, during, or after finishing. In
some instance, the finishing zone 438 may include a finishing
device 400 to perform finishing operations on the print media
sheets 442. Put another way, finishing device 400 may be a finisher
for post-printing actions (e.g., stapling, hole-punching, folding,
or collating).
[0024] Finishing device 400, in some examples, can include a
biasing element located between a monoclamp and a carrier body
(e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1) to force the monoclamp away from
the carrier body and increase clearance between the monoclamp and
the carrier body. The biasing element, in some instances, can be
mounted in the monoclamp, act against an exterior of the carrier
body, and hold the monoclamp in a particular orientation. For
instance, by keeping the monoclamp in a particular orientation,
theta-x rotation is reduced.
[0025] In some examples, when a gimbaled monoclamp is used, two
independent racks can be driven by a single shaft. Degrees of
freedom of the two-independent-racks system can be reduced because
the monoclamp spans and connects both racks. Clearance between a
monoclamp and a carrier body can be increased to reducing system
binding issues. The increased clearance can result in theta-x
rotation of the monoclamp while clamping and in turn, media stack
shingling. The spring can be used to force the monoclamp away from
the carrier body by applying a force to the monoclamp evenly
throughout a range of motion of the monoclamp. In addition to
reducing theta-x rotation and shingling, use of the biasing element
can allow parts to be built with tolerances desired for
multi-cavity injection molds (e.g., allowing assembly without
binding) while orientating assembled parts such that clearances can
be controlled and extraneous motion (e.g., theta-x rotation) and
unwanted side effects can be reduced.
[0026] In some examples, media transport device 410 can have
coupled to it a rigid attachment device and a bias member (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 3). The bias member can be also coupled to the
attachment device, and can bias the attachment device, media
transport device 410, and a push-pull member to reduce clearances
between the attachment device, the push-pull member, and media
transport device 410. In some instances, the bias member is an
extension spring to remove a motion of x-registration media
transport device 410 For instance, a print media sheet 442 can be
pulled from left to right (e.g., from the perspective of a user
standing in front of the printing device 434). This motion is
perpendicular to the motion that the bias member removes. The print
media sheet 442 can also be moved from front to rear (again from
the perspective of a user standing in front of the printing device
434). This motion is parallel to the motion removed by bias the
bias member.
[0027] In some examples, system 440 can include a controller (not
pictured). As used herein, the term "controller" refers to a
computing device that may contain a processing resource and a
memory resource to execute instructions. The controller may be
included in the printing device 434, finishing device 400, a
standalone device, or in a separate device that may be located
external to system 440. The controller may determine information
relating to the print job or finishing job and execute instructions
based on that information. For instance, the controller may actuate
portions of finishing device 400, such as a monoclamp.
[0028] In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part
hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples
of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in
sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to
practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be
understood that other examples may be utilized and that process,
electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing
from the scope of the disclosure.
[0029] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which
the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the
remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.
Similar elements or components between different figures may be
identified by the use of similar digits. For example, 216 may
reference element "16" in FIG. 2, and a similar element may be
referenced as 316 in FIG. 3.
[0030] Elements illustrated in the various figures herein can be
added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a plurality of
additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion
and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are
intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure and should
not be taken in a limiting sense. As used herein, the designator
"N", particularly with respect to reference numerals in the
drawings, indicates that a plurality of the particular feature so
designated can be included with examples of the disclosure. The
designators can represent the same or different numbers of the
particular features. Further, as used herein, "a plurality of" an
element and/or feature refers to more than one of such elements
and/or features.
[0031] The above specification, examples and data provide a
description of the method and applications and use of the system
and method of the present disclosure. Since many examples can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and
method of the present disclosure, this specification merely sets
forth some of the many possible example configurations and
implementations.
* * * * *